US4672877A - Tailpiece of a guitar - Google Patents
Tailpiece of a guitar Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4672877A US4672877A US06/830,068 US83006886A US4672877A US 4672877 A US4672877 A US 4672877A US 83006886 A US83006886 A US 83006886A US 4672877 A US4672877 A US 4672877A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lever
- string
- pivot
- instrument
- tailpiece
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
- G10D3/12—Anchoring devices for strings, e.g. tail pieces or hitchpins
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10D1/00—General design of stringed musical instruments
- G10D1/04—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres
- G10D1/05—Plucked or strummed string instruments, e.g. harps or lyres with fret boards or fingerboards
- G10D1/08—Guitars
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10D3/00—Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
- G10D3/04—Bridges
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a tailpiece for a guitar, and more particularly to a tailpiece which facilitates rapid guitar string replacement and string tension adjustment.
- the string of a guitar typically extends from a respective peg on the peghead of the guitar and over the neck of the guitar, the body of the guitar, past the pickup if it is an electric guitar, over the bridge and it is then anchored on the tailpiece at the bottom or base of the guitar. Installation of the string usually requires substantial winding of a length of the string at the peg. This is a time consuming process and the string is generally longer than desirable.
- the bridge and tailpiece are combined into a single tailpiece assembly.
- the bridge and tailpiece assembly is movable, by a tremolo arm, or the like, with respect to the body of the guitar to which the assembly is secured.
- Another object of the invention is to provide such mounting of a string which also permits fine tuning by fine adjustments of string tension.
- Another object of the invention is to avoid the need for a too long string and to avoid excess winding of the string during string installation and string tension adjustment.
- a further object of the invention is to enable fine tuning of the guitar string once it has been attached on the musical instrument.
- the combined tailpiece and bridge assembly is securable to the top face of the body of the guitar at the rear or base end where the tailpiece is normally installed.
- Each string extends from its peg at the peghead, passes over a respective bridge saddle on the tailpiece and bridge assembly which saddle is placed where the guitar bridge normally is located. From the saddle, the string extends to and is secured to a pivotable lever which serves as the tailpiece and the string tension adjustment means.
- Each string is provided with a respective lever arrangement which includes a main body in the form of a pivotable lever that is pivotally attached for being pivoted up and down off the body of the guitar around a pivot axis defined at the front end of the tailpiece assembly, forward of the bridge saddle. The respective string extends over the bridge saddle and is secured to the lever rearward of the bridge saddle. Lowering the lever to its position on the face of the guitar body positions the string and initially tensions it.
- the fine tuning mechanism comprises a screw threaded arrangement movable along the lever, and rotation of the screw of the arrangement moves the string along the lever for adjusting its tension.
- a latching arrangement for each of the pivotable levers is defined on the main body of the tailpiece assembly. When each pivot lever is lowered to the guitar body, the latch arrangement latches it there.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire tailpiece assembly of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section through the tailpiece assembly shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the rear portion of the tailpiece assembly illustrating the latching mechanism for elements of the tailpiece assembly.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated the combined tailpiece and bridge assembly of a guitar (not shown).
- the assembly is mounted on the top surface or face of the body of the guitar, by means to be described below.
- the tailpiece and bridge assembly is placed on the rear end of the guitar in the location where the tailpiece would be located and it extends forward from the rear of the guitar to where the bridge for the strings would be normally found.
- the present invention is particularly adapted for use on guitars. However, its use and adaptation for other string instruments would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
- the tailpiece and bridge assembly of the present invention includes a main body 10 which, most broadly stated, is an open top flat box into which other elements of the assembly are installed.
- the front end wall 51 of the tailpiece assembly shown at the right in FIG. 1, has a plurality of notches formed at spaced locations along its length for receiving the below described arms 21 of the individual pivot levers 20.
- a single axle pin 11 extends across the tailpiece assembly, and passes through the front wall and across each of the notches in the front wall of the tailpiece assembly for defining the pivot axle for all of the pivot levers, as described further below.
- notches 12 which receive the rear, swingable ends of the levers 20 of the tailpiece assembly, also as described.
- the width of the notches is selected to maintain the positions of the levers side to side.
- the rear wall 52 of body 10 also includes projecting steps 13 for cooperating with below described latches 35 for latching the levers 20 to the main body 10 of the tailpiece assembly, as described below.
- the main body 10 of the tailpiece assembly includes an anchor 15 which extends down from the underside, at the forward end of the body 10, and is disposed inside the guitar body (not shown). There is also a tremolo lever 7 attached to the main body 10 and the main body may be tilted by the tremolo lever for creating the tremolo effect.
- the anchor 15 permits that tilting. Details of the tremolo apparatus are not here provided, as a conventional tremolo design may be used in connection with the main body.
- a depending portion 16 which extends inside the guitar body.
- a spring 17 which is hooked to an anchor, such as a hook or pin, inside the guitar body.
- the spring 17 cooperates with the tremolo lever for returning the main body 10 to its position toward the face of the body of the guitar.
- the lever 20 is a hollow body. At its forward end, to the right in FIG. 2, it is bifurcated, terminating in a pair of spaced apart arms 21. Each arm is provided with a notch at its end and that notch receives the above-described axle pin 11. The engagement of both arms 21 of the lever 20 with pin 11 provides the pivot axis for the main body lever 20.
- the rear portion 23 of the lever 20 defines a closed chamber to define a channel for guiding forward and rearward movement of the string tension adjustment body 30, while prohibiting that body 30 from tilting with respect to the lever 20. Rearwardly of its portion 23, the lever 20 is narrowed at 24 for containing the spring 33 and supporting the knob 32a, described below.
- the tension adjustment body 30 is of a height to fit in the channel defined for it in the lever portion 23.
- the body 30 has beneath it a string securing means in the form of a receiving notch 31 in which the ball or roller 8 at the rear end of the guitar string 9 is received. In this manner, the string 9 is anchored to the tension adjustment body 30.
- the notch 31 is beneath the body 30 and the lever 20, so that the string 9 will be bent down over the below described saddle 40.
- the tension adjusting body 30 has a threaded opening 53. Into that opening is threaded the tension adjusting bolt 32.
- the rear holding part 24 of the lever portion 23 supports the shank of the bolt 32 and prevents it from rocking.
- the bolt 32 passes through the spring 34 which is outward of the main body 10 and through the spring 33 which is inward of the body 10.
- the springs together maintain the body 30 under proper tension and also permit a small amount of shifting of that body due to stresses on the string 9, operation of the tremolo, stresses due to pivoting of the lever 20, etc.
- the spring 33 which is inside the lever part 23, extends between the lever part 23 and the body 30 and urges the body 30 to the right in FIG. 2.
- the spring 34 extends between the knob 32a at the end of the bolt 32 and the next described latch 35.
- a latch 35 which cooperates with the lever 20 for latching the lever in the downward, solid line condition of FIG. 2.
- the latch 35 has a rearward projection 36, which latches beneath the step 13 on the rear edge of the rear wall 52 of the main body 10.
- the spring 34 resiliently permits the latch 35 to deflect when the lever 20 is lowered from its upraised to its lowered condition so that the elements 13, 36 may touch and snap past each other.
- the latch lever 35 is tilted in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 against the bias of spring 34 to release the projection 36 from the step 13, and this permits raising of the lever 20.
- a respective bridge saddle 40 for each of the strings is carried on an elongate, curved arm. The rearward end of that arm is generally parallel to the underside of the body 10 and is fixed there by the bolt 42.
- Inside the upraised, forward part of the saddle is disposed an adjusting screw 45 which is internal to the saddle and which presses against the inside of the bottom of the body 10. Rotation of the adjusting screw 45 from outside the saddle 40 will permit slight pivoting of the saddle 40 around the fulcrum defined at the bolt 42 which permits slight adjustment in the height of the saddle 40.
- the top of the saddle 40 is sharply rounded and includes a respective notch 43 in which the string 9 is loosely received as it passes to the notch 31 in the body 30.
- the main body pivot lever 20 is unlatched and upraised to its broken line position of FIG. 2.
- the string attached at its respective peg (not shown) is brought to the notch 31 in the body 30 and the ball 8 at the end of the string is anchored in the notch 31.
- the lever 20 is lowered to its solid line position in FIG. 2, until the latch 35 latches the lever 20 to the body 10.
- the preferred maximum angle of rotation of the main body lever 20 is approximately 30°.
- the resulting tensile length of the string as a result of the rotation is in the range of 1.5 and 4 millimeters. It is desirable that the angle of rotation be fixed beforehand in response to the tensile length of each string, and that would mean appropriate adjustments in the angles of rotation.
- the tension of the string can be adjusted by rotation of the knob 32a which rotates the bolt 32 and thereby moves the body 30 left and right, as appropriate, to adjust the string tension. This avoids the need for adjusting string tension at the peghead, although that is additionally possible.
- the end of the string is first engaged with the main body pivot lever, which is then fixed in a horizontal position.
- the guitar string can be installed under tension to some extent quite easily and quickly in a single operation. This avoids the need for winding and tightening an excessive length of string.
- string tension can be easily adjusted through the adjustment mechanism at the tailpiece assembly, without need for tension adjustment at the peghead. Very fine string tension adjustments are possible with the adjustment mechanism at the tailpiece assembly.
Abstract
Description
Claims (15)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP60044525A JPS60204800A (en) | 1984-03-07 | 1985-03-05 | Desproline vasopressin antagonist |
JP60-044525[U] | 1985-03-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4672877A true US4672877A (en) | 1987-06-16 |
Family
ID=12693934
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/830,068 Expired - Fee Related US4672877A (en) | 1985-03-05 | 1986-02-14 | Tailpiece of a guitar |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4672877A (en) |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4779506A (en) * | 1986-08-13 | 1988-10-25 | Toshitaka Takeuti | Fine tuning mechanism in electric guitar |
DE4134574A1 (en) * | 1990-11-27 | 1992-06-04 | Voelz Axel | Height-adjustable instrument-string holder - has saddle sliding in stirring direction on bridge bracket |
DE4216475C1 (en) * | 1992-05-15 | 1993-07-15 | Miroslav Dipl.-Ing. 1000 Berlin De Dlesk | Tuning mechanism for stringed musical instrument - has hinged block with string holder forming arm adjustable for angle |
US6441281B1 (en) | 2000-01-31 | 2002-08-27 | Charles A. Rattner | Tension-releasing bridge for use with stringed musical instruments |
US20030177883A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2003-09-25 | Rose Floyd D. | Tuning systems for stringed musical instruments |
US20040159204A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2004-08-19 | Rose Floyd D. | Removable nut assembly, methods and kits for stringed musical instruments |
US20070095192A1 (en) * | 2005-11-03 | 2007-05-03 | Moore Kevin S | Apparatus for coupling strings to the body of a stringed instrument and related methods |
US7462767B1 (en) | 2005-06-10 | 2008-12-09 | Swift Dana B | Stringed musical instrument tension balancer |
US20120285311A1 (en) * | 2011-05-10 | 2012-11-15 | Nicholas Frirsz | Interchangeable tuners for a tailpiece of a musical instrument |
CN103632654A (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2014-03-12 | 内蒙古科技大学 | Fine tuning mechanism for wooden guitar |
US8940986B1 (en) * | 2013-11-19 | 2015-01-27 | Nole F. Edwards | Tremolo and bridge device for stringed instruments |
US9123312B2 (en) | 2012-01-19 | 2015-09-01 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tuning mechanisms |
US9478199B1 (en) * | 2016-02-05 | 2016-10-25 | Christopher G. Duncan | Stringed instrument hemispherical pull string tensioner |
US9484007B1 (en) | 2015-11-18 | 2016-11-01 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tremolo stop tuner and tremolo stabilizer |
US9502010B1 (en) | 2014-08-22 | 2016-11-22 | William Cardozo | Guitar tremolo bridge |
US9595245B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2017-03-14 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Locking bearing mechanisms for fulcrum tremolo |
US9847076B1 (en) | 2016-10-18 | 2017-12-19 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tremolo spring and stabilizer tuner |
US9984666B1 (en) * | 2017-01-25 | 2018-05-29 | Michael J. Knight | String instrument tailpiece |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2741146A (en) * | 1954-08-30 | 1956-04-10 | Clarence L Fender | Tremolo device for stringed instruments |
JPS5915987A (en) * | 1982-06-08 | 1984-01-27 | スタインバ−ガ−・サウンド・コ−ポレイシヨン | String adjustor for stringed instrument |
US4608905A (en) * | 1984-02-25 | 1986-09-02 | Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. | Tremolo apparatus for an electric guitar with tuning function |
US4611523A (en) * | 1985-05-17 | 1986-09-16 | Mcfarland John H | Device for setting the intonation of the individual strings of a fretted string instrument |
-
1986
- 1986-02-14 US US06/830,068 patent/US4672877A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2741146A (en) * | 1954-08-30 | 1956-04-10 | Clarence L Fender | Tremolo device for stringed instruments |
JPS5915987A (en) * | 1982-06-08 | 1984-01-27 | スタインバ−ガ−・サウンド・コ−ポレイシヨン | String adjustor for stringed instrument |
US4608905A (en) * | 1984-02-25 | 1986-09-02 | Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. | Tremolo apparatus for an electric guitar with tuning function |
US4611523A (en) * | 1985-05-17 | 1986-09-16 | Mcfarland John H | Device for setting the intonation of the individual strings of a fretted string instrument |
Cited By (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4779506A (en) * | 1986-08-13 | 1988-10-25 | Toshitaka Takeuti | Fine tuning mechanism in electric guitar |
DE4134574A1 (en) * | 1990-11-27 | 1992-06-04 | Voelz Axel | Height-adjustable instrument-string holder - has saddle sliding in stirring direction on bridge bracket |
DE4216475C1 (en) * | 1992-05-15 | 1993-07-15 | Miroslav Dipl.-Ing. 1000 Berlin De Dlesk | Tuning mechanism for stringed musical instrument - has hinged block with string holder forming arm adjustable for angle |
US6441281B1 (en) | 2000-01-31 | 2002-08-27 | Charles A. Rattner | Tension-releasing bridge for use with stringed musical instruments |
US20030177883A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2003-09-25 | Rose Floyd D. | Tuning systems for stringed musical instruments |
US20040159204A1 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2004-08-19 | Rose Floyd D. | Removable nut assembly, methods and kits for stringed musical instruments |
US7045693B2 (en) * | 2002-01-11 | 2006-05-16 | Floyd D. Rose | Tuning systems for stringed musical instruments |
US7462767B1 (en) | 2005-06-10 | 2008-12-09 | Swift Dana B | Stringed musical instrument tension balancer |
US20070095192A1 (en) * | 2005-11-03 | 2007-05-03 | Moore Kevin S | Apparatus for coupling strings to the body of a stringed instrument and related methods |
US7638697B2 (en) | 2005-11-03 | 2009-12-29 | Moore Kevin S | Apparatus for coupling strings to the body of a stringed instrument and related methods |
US8766068B2 (en) * | 2011-05-10 | 2014-07-01 | Nicholas Frirsz | Interchangeable tuners for a tailpiece of a musical instrument |
US20120285311A1 (en) * | 2011-05-10 | 2012-11-15 | Nicholas Frirsz | Interchangeable tuners for a tailpiece of a musical instrument |
US9123312B2 (en) | 2012-01-19 | 2015-09-01 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tuning mechanisms |
US8940986B1 (en) * | 2013-11-19 | 2015-01-27 | Nole F. Edwards | Tremolo and bridge device for stringed instruments |
CN103632654B (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2016-01-13 | 内蒙古科技大学 | A kind of micro-toning mechanism for wooden guitar |
CN103632654A (en) * | 2013-12-06 | 2014-03-12 | 内蒙古科技大学 | Fine tuning mechanism for wooden guitar |
US20170061941A1 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2017-03-02 | William Cardozo | Guitar Tremolo Bridge |
US9697809B2 (en) * | 2014-08-22 | 2017-07-04 | William Cardozo | Guitar tremolo bridge |
US9502010B1 (en) | 2014-08-22 | 2016-11-22 | William Cardozo | Guitar tremolo bridge |
US9595245B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2017-03-14 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Locking bearing mechanisms for fulcrum tremolo |
US9484007B1 (en) | 2015-11-18 | 2016-11-01 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tremolo stop tuner and tremolo stabilizer |
US9478199B1 (en) * | 2016-02-05 | 2016-10-25 | Christopher G. Duncan | Stringed instrument hemispherical pull string tensioner |
US9847076B1 (en) | 2016-10-18 | 2017-12-19 | Geoffrey Lee McCabe | Tremolo spring and stabilizer tuner |
US9984666B1 (en) * | 2017-01-25 | 2018-05-29 | Michael J. Knight | String instrument tailpiece |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4672877A (en) | Tailpiece of a guitar | |
KR940005037B1 (en) | Tremolo and tuning apparatus | |
CA1208464A (en) | Apparatus for restraining and fine tuning the strings of a musical instrument, particularly guitars | |
US4512232A (en) | Tremolo tailpiece and bridge device | |
US4742750A (en) | Adjustable fine tuning bridge system and tremolo for stringed musical instruments | |
US4955275A (en) | Adjustable tremolo tail piece | |
US4608906A (en) | Tremolo apparatus for an electric guitar | |
US4549461A (en) | Apparatus for restraining and fine tuning the strings of a musical instrument, particularly guitars | |
US4677891A (en) | Tremolo bridge for guitars | |
JPH0145076B2 (en) | ||
US4655116A (en) | Fine tuning mechanism for guitars and the like stringed instruments | |
CZ247289A3 (en) | Tremolo apparatus | |
KR20040069217A (en) | Tuning systems for stringed musical instruments | |
US4681011A (en) | Tremolo arm mounting for stringed instrument | |
US20080072735A1 (en) | Locking Cam Tremolo Device | |
KR100485493B1 (en) | Tremolo unit for string instrument | |
US9847076B1 (en) | Tremolo spring and stabilizer tuner | |
US4697493A (en) | Tremolo control arm retainer | |
EP0620944B1 (en) | Vibrato apparatus | |
CA2037029C (en) | Tremolo device for a guitar | |
WO2000019405A1 (en) | Tuning apparatus for stringed instrument | |
US4930389A (en) | Self-tensioning trussrod system | |
US7183475B2 (en) | Stringed instrument with adjustable string tension control | |
US20040159206A1 (en) | Locking device for a tremolo | |
US8853513B2 (en) | Vibrato system for stringed musical instruments |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HOSHINO GAKKI CO., LTD., 22, 3-CHOME, SHUMOKU-CHO, Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:HOSHINO, YOSHIKI;MATSUI, KAZUHIRO;REEL/FRAME:004518/0745 Effective date: 19860207 Owner name: HOSHINO GAKKI CO., LTD., A CORP OF JAPAN,JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HOSHINO, YOSHIKI;MATSUI, KAZUHIRO;REEL/FRAME:004518/0745 Effective date: 19860207 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 19990616 |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |